Source: Public Health in the Americas. Conceptual Renewal, Performance Assessment, and Bases for Action, Public Health in the Americas. Conceptual Renewal, Performance Assessment, and Bases for Action , pp. 17-33(17)

Publisher: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

Abstract:

Public Health in the Americas stresses the need to rediscover public health. It summarizes the principal conceptual, methodological, and empirical developments stemming from the institutional efforts of PAHO and WHO which have entailed the broad, committed participation of the member countries. Finally, it provides an overview of the status of the EPHF in 41 countries and territories of the Region based on performance measurement exercises.At the heart of this work, its leitmotif is a three-pronged approach. The first prong examines both conceptually and analytically the state and non-state public responsibilities, the current public health practice in the Americas- employing an effective problem-solving approach (Parts I and II). The second is the possibility of translating that conceptual framework into operational definitions with great pragmatism that comes from the explicit definition and operation of the EPHF (Part III). The third is the formulation and discussion of processes and instruments that will make it possible to move from measurement to action, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each country, each subregion, and the Region of the Americas as a whole. This will lead to improvements in public health practice, leading the way to the promotion of institutional development and the strengthening of the public health infrastructure, considering methodological instruments for determining cost, budgeting, and financing (Part IV).Part II deals with the conceptual renewal of public health. It focuses on the diverse and complex environment from which this sphere of activity springs, is nourished, and develops. For this reason each chapter of Part II gives great importance to the concept of public health in an effort to move from theory to practice, constantly searching for linkages.

Keywords: PUBLIC HEALTH; PUBLIC HEALTH, HISTORY; AMERICAS; CONCEPTUAL RENEWAL; ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS (EPFH); SOCIAL PROCTICES; GLOBALIZATION; HEALTH SYSTEM; HEALTH CARE

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-01-01

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